Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm
by George Orwell

Dystopian | Fantasy
55 Pages
Released August 1945

Rating: ★★★★★
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Content Warnings

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Despite its meager size, this book packs a powerful punch. Unlike many others, I did not read Animal Farm in school. And, since my goal is to read more classics, I thought this would be a perfect next pick. Please note that this review does contain some spoiler-ish information.

This book follows several animals living a farm. Tired and fed up by their awful owner, the animals hold a mutiny to overthrow the farmer and take control of the farm themselves. Initially, things go well. The animals each have their purpose and are happy with their new lives. But slowly, the power dynamic between the animals starts to shift as greed and ego take over.

I admit, I knew the general story line of Animal Farm going into the story so I knew, roughly, how the book was going to go. Despite this, these mere 55 pages were probably some of the most impactful that I’ve read this year.

What I loved so much about this story is that it so clearly and plainly shows what can happen to a society, particularly a naive or uneducated one, when greed and intelligence meets opportunity. The parallels were clear, and I read with slow and mounting horror as the pigs manipulated their way to the top. This book is a stark reminder to be aware of what goes on around you in the world.

Despite its meager size, Animal Farm was hand down one of the most impactful and thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. If you haven’t read it yet either, I highly recommend it.